Anticlogging device for roof drains



Oct. 25, 1949. J. B. BLAU ANTICLOGGING DEVICE FOR ROOF DRAINS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1947 Oct. 25, 1949. I J. B. BLAU 2,485,547

ANTICLOGGING DEVICE FOR ROOF DRAINS Filed June 14, 1947 2 Sheebs-Sheet 27 -4 i a? 47 H \H n m {a M I! I INVENTOR. (/Z/YZJ. 3 .BLflU BY I A770KY9 Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTICLOGGINGDEVICE FOR ROOF DRAIN S James B. Blau, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,691

Claims. (Cl. 210-170) The present invention relates to anti-cloggingdevices for roof drains and more particularly to devices of this typewhich provide oneor more turbine elements which are operated by waterentering the drain.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which will breakthe suction created in the drain or leader pipe from a roof or gutterwhen the water flow becomes increased to a point where there is atendency to draw paper and other materials forcibly toward the strainerand thus clog the openings therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device having arotary member disposed to protect the strainer in dry weather and torevolve when water enters the drain. The rotary member includes externalprojections which will clear away debris which floats toward the drainwhile the rotary member is revolving.

A further object is to provide a float in the rotary protective memberwhich will raise the member sufficiently to permit the entry of waterunder the edge thereof. The invention contemplates means for venting thefloat, allowing it to accommodate changes in pressure which wouldotherwise result from changes in temperature and for filling the floatwith a light liquid such as alcohol which has a low freezing point. Thepurpose of the low freezing point liquid is to prevent water which mightotherwise enter the float from freezing during cold weather, therebydistorting or otherwise damaging the float.

: The invention finds particular usefulness during the fall when leavesgather in and around roof drains and gutters.

Other and further objects will become apparen upon reading the followingspecification together with the accompanying drawing forming a parthereof.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodi ment of the invention inposition on a roof.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation showing the invention positionedin a leader which is connected to a gutter.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. l, partly brokenaway to show the turbine mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in elevation of a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the modified form shown in Fig. 4. V

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-8 of Fig.4looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device indicated generally as H is shown in thecorner of a flat roof I! which is enclosed by a parapet l3. The device His located in the drain pipe situated at the lowest portion of the roofwhich slopes slightly toward the drain.

In Fig. 2, the inclined roof I I4 drains into gutter l5 which connectswith leader IS in the usual manner. The device I l is positioned in theupper end of leader l6 at the point whereit joins gutter I5. t I

Referring to Fig. 3, device I l comprises a hollow lower cylindricalportion I! of suitable dimensions to fit removably within leader l6 ofFig. 2 or within the drain pipe connecting with roof l2 of Fig. 1. Acylindrical strainer member I8 of suitable perforated material issecured to the exterior of a fiat ring l9 which is fastened at itsinternal periphery to the upper extremity of lower hollow cylindricalportion IT.

A cup shaped strainerll of suitable perforated. material is secured toan annular member 22 which is flanged to fit loosely over the upperportion of strainer I8. Cup strainer M is readily removable in orderthat debris accumulated therein may be readily emptied therefrom.

Centrally disposed within the interior of hollow member I! is a.transversely extending shaft 25 suitably journalled at 26 in bearings ofany desired type which minimize friction and which will withstandrepeated immersion in water. Shaft 25 carries a turbine wheel 21 whichis shown provided with a plurality of blades 28.

The blades are shown straight but may be shaped,.

if desired, to provide for a tendency to favor a particular direction ofrotation.

Water from the roof having passed through the strainers enters lowercylindrical portion I! at one side or the other. The unit is positionedwithin leader It so that it tilts slightly and so that water enteringthe unit initially will act on the blades .28 to cause rotation of wheel21 in a particular direction. As the flow increases to a point wherewater tends to fill the entire pipe and create a suction at thestrainer, the rotation of wheel 21 and blades 28 carried thereby createsa turbulence in the water and prevents the water column in leader Hifrom filling the pipe and creating such a suction at the upper endthereof. The creation of such a suction causes water to be drawn withunusual velocity toward the strainer and moreover it draws forciblyagainst the strainer any debris which may be floating therein, thusclogging the openings in the strainer 3 and causing the external waterlevel to rise unduly.

Referring to Fig. 4, a modification of the invention is illustrated. Atransverse shaft 40 is shown supporting a ball bearing 4| which carriesat its periphery a plurality of bucket shaped turbine blades 42. Thebucket shape shown may be modified to cause rotation in a particulardirection as noted above. The shaft 40 is disposed in hollow cylindricalportion 43 which is to be fitted into leader H in a manner similar tothat described for Figs. 1 to 3. This is described above with respect tocylindrical portion ll of the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFig. 3.

A vertical stationary shaft '44 carries a ball bearing 45 which slidesfreely thereon and which is supported by coil spring 46. Arotor 411'sfreely.

mounted on shaft 44 and comprises abo'ttom portion which is closed toprovide a float and which rests on bearing 45 so that rotor 41 willrevolve with the greatest freedom.

.Rotor -41 is provided with a plurality of external radially-extendingblades -49 and with internally extending blades .51]. Rotor 4-1 is setinmotion ,by the whirlpool action of the water as it swirls throughstrainer 5| and into cylindrical portion .43 which .is disposed in thedrain leader. As debris approaches rotor 41 it is thrown outwardlyby theaction of external blades 49 which are kept in motion by the inertia ofrotor.

Rotor 41 may be so arranged that it rests .ina relatively .low positionproviding a minimum space for the passage of .water beneath itsperipheral edges. the float action of closed bottom portion48 .combinedwith .the action of coil. spring 46 causes the rotor .to rise toaccommodate the increased flow and .at the same .time the periphery mayremain slightly submerged thus preventing floating debris from coming incontact with strainer .5 I this floating debris being urged outwardlyand away from rotor 4.1 by the action of the blades 49. Blades 50 servetorespond to the swirling action of the water and aid in maintaining therotor 41 in motion.

Provision is made by removablecap .5 I forfilling the float formed bybottom 48 with .a fluid such as .alcohol to prevent freezing during coldWeather. The float is vented at 52 to permit it to breathe duringchanges in temperature or .in atmospheric pressure. This breathing isdesirable to .prevent changes in temperature from creating mechanicalstresses in the rotor and particularly to permit water to evaporate ifit should become trapped within the unit. Freezing of such trapped water.Would damage the rotor. The venting .action permits Water to enter therotor and thus makes it desirable to provide an .antifreezing liquid .oflow specific gravity within the float in order that the freezing pointof the mixture may be kept ,sufiiciently low to prevent damage to thestructure. In addition, the buoyancy of the float may be adjusted bysuitable selection of the anti-freezing liquid.

Ihaveshown to be what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be limited by the embodimentsshown but :as by the invention as set forth in the appended claims. I

I claim:

:1. .An 'anti-clogging'device for roof drains comprisingahollow lowercylindrical portion adapted to she fitted into the upper end of a leaderpipe of a drain, aflat ring fastened to the upper end .of thecylindrical portion and adapted to rest-upon As the flow -of waterincreases,

the end of the leader pipe, a cylindrical strainer threaded onto theflat ring and extending thereabove and above the upper end of theleader, a shaft extending transversely across the cylindrical portionand a turbine wheel mounted on said shaft and having blades adapted tobe contacted by water entering the device and to set up a turbulence ofsuch water whereby to keep debris from entering the cylindrical strainerfrom the exterior, side thereof; V

2. Ananti-clog'ging device for roof drains comprising a hollow lowercylindrical portion adapted -tobe fitted into the upper end of a leaderpipe .of a drain, .a.fiatring. fastened to the upper end of thecylindrical portion and adapted to rest 1111011117116 end of the leaderpipe, a cylindrical upper end thereof and anflannular member se-.

cured to the cup-shaped strainer and having .a depending flange adaptedto fit over the upper end of the cylindrical strainer to hold thecupshaped member concentrically spaced within the cylindrical strainerand against displacement therewithin, the bottom of said cup-shapedmember being spaced from the upper end of the hollow cylindrical portionso as not to interfere with the upward turbulence of thewater'exte'ndedby the turbine wheel.

3. An anti-clogging device for roof drains comprising a hollow lowercylindrical portion adapted to be fitted into the upper end of a leaderpipe .of a drain, afiat ring fastened to the upper end of thecylindrical portion-and adapted .to rest upon the=end of the leaderpipe, a cylindrical strainer threaded onto the flat ring and extendingthereabove and above the upper end of the leader, a shaft extendingtransversely across the cylindrical portion and a turbine wheel mountedon said shaft and having blades adapted to be contacted .by waterentering the device and to set up a turbulence of such water whereby tokeep debris from entering the cylindrical strainer from the exteriorside thereof, a transversely extending support within the cylindricalportion above the turbine wheel, a vertically extending shaft supported.upon said transverse support and extending upwardly above thecylindrical strainer and centrally thereof, a rotor mounted on saidshaft for free rotation and extending outwardly over the upper end ofthe cylindrical strainer and downwardly over the sides thereof, butspaced therefrom, radially outwardly extending .and radially inwardlyextending blades circumferentially spaced about the rotor whereby togive the rotor rotation as the whirlpool action of the water is effectedupon-entering the strainer and wherein debris upon approaching the rotorwill be thrown outwardly by the action of the radially extendingexternal blades.

4. An anti-clogging device as defined in claim 3 .and said rotor havinga bottom portion closed to provide a float, a spring support onthe-shaft and resting on the transverse support for supporting therotor, .said spring support including-a ball bearing unit having oneraceconnected to the rotor bottom portion, said bottom portion beingretained above the upper end of the hollow cylindrical portion.

5. An anti-clogging device as defined in claim 3, said rotor having afluid inlet for the float 5 through which liquid may be extended tocontrol the buoyance of the rotor and a breathing nut on the rotor.

JAMES BLAU.

Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

Number Great Britain 1894

